Town Worker Charged With Stealing, Selling Drugs

A township maintenance department employee faces charges of possession with intent to distribute drugs and theft, the said.

Jamie M. Rossi, 31, of Landing, has been charged with possession to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and theft of movable property.

According to department spokesman Ptlm. Earl Kinsey, the Parsippany Police Department's Investigative Division discovered information in March that Rossi was selling prescription pain medication in Parsippany.

Kinsey said an investigation was initiated and evidence was obtained to confirm the information police had gathered.      

Weeks later, the case took a turn on April 10. Officer Edmund Ailara went to the  at 1130 Knoll Road to investigate reports of thefts that had occurred within the township building starting last December.

Kinsey said the final theft reported took place on April 9. A suspect reportedly entered a secured office in the Community Center and stole $42 in cash.

Over the 4 1/2 months, police reported a total of $1,182 in cash and gift cards were stolen.

"In previous incidents, an unknown individual entered locked offices and stole either cash or gift cards," Kinsey said via a statement. "There were never signs of forcible entry to any of the locked doors."

Police identified Rossi, who worked for the town's maintenance department, as "a prime suspect in the thefts."      

On April 12 at about 2 p.m., officers obtained a warrant to search Rossi’s vehicle on Chesapeake Avenue in Lake Hiawatha, police said.

A search of Rossi's vehicle yielded 85 30mg Oxycodone pills, police said.

Rossi was taken into custody and questioned about the Community Center thefts and about the distribution of prescription narcotics within the township, police said.

Rossi was charged and released pending a court appearance.